How to buy bitcoin in Latvia
- Status
- Legal
- Currency
- Euro (EUR)
- Recommended
- 7 exchanges
- Last reviewed
- 2026-08-20
Latvia is a straightforward euro-area market for bitcoin: Bitvavo is our first pick on cost, ahead of Relai, a bitcoin-only app with self-custody by default and a MiCA license valid across the EEA, and Kraken, with Bitpanda, Coinbase, Bitstamp, and Binance all serving Latvian customers under the same EU rulebook. Everything runs on SEPA transfers from any Latvian bank, free or nearly so, with cards as the faster and pricier route. Supervision sits with Latvijas Banka, the central bank, which took over financial oversight when it absorbed the old financial regulator and now handles crypto licensing under the EU's MiCA regulation. Gains count as capital income, so keep your trade history ready for the State Revenue Service.
Best exchanges in Latvia
Ranked by our editorial review of fees, security record, and local payment support. Rankings are never sold.
| # | Exchange | Rating | Fees | ID check | Pay with | Visit or read the review |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bitvavo | 4.5 | 0.15% maker at the base tier | Required | Visit | |
| 2 | Relai | 4.5Bitcoin-only | Around 1% per purchase | Required | Visit | |
| 3 | Kraken | 4.7 | From 0.25% maker, 0.40% taker | Required | Visit | |
| 4 | Bitpanda | 4.4 | Premium built into the price | Required | Visit | |
| 5 | Coinbase | 4.5 | Maker-taker on Advanced Trade | Required | Visit | |
| 6 | Bitstamp | 4.3 | Maker-taker, falls with volume | Required | Visit | |
| 7 | Binance | 4.2 | From 0.1% spot, maker and taker | Required | Visit |
Some Visit buttons above are referral links: signing up through them is credited to us and may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you. Which platforms pay makes no difference to the ranking.
Why these picks
1. Bitvavo The largest euro spot exchange in the world, licensed under MiCA by the Dutch regulator, with free euro and iDEAL deposits.
SEPA transfer: free
MiCA-authorised by the Dutch regulator; the largest euro order book in the EEA
2. Relai Swiss bitcoin-only app with SEPA instant buys, self-custody by default, and a MiCA license covering the EEA.
3. Kraken A 2011-vintage exchange with one of the cleanest security records in the business, heading toward a US stock listing.
4. Bitpanda Austria's regulated broker with three MiCAR licenses, built for European savers who fund by SEPA.
5. Coinbase The easiest US on-ramp for beginners, publicly listed, and legally in the clear since the SEC dropped its case.
6. Bitstamp One of the oldest bitcoin exchanges, now owned by Robinhood and powering its UK and institutional crypto rails.
7. Binance The largest crypto exchange by volume: the deepest bitcoin liquidity anywhere, the lowest headline spot fee of any major platform, and quarterly proof of reserves, under a settled US case and an independent monitor.
Payment methods in Latvia
The rails local buyers actually use, under their local names. Support varies by exchange; the list above shows exactly which methods each one takes here.
- SEPA transferPrimary
Crypto cards available in Latvia
These spend money at ordinary shops and pay you back in crypto, which is the opposite of the exchanges above: those buy bitcoin, these do not. Availability is the issuer's own published coverage.
- Bitget Wallet Card2% base assetback on every cardholder, rising to 3% once monthly spend clears a $200-$400 threshold depending on region and card type; paid in a choice of BTC, gold, US stocks, and other assets.
- Bitpanda CardFlat 1% cashback in the same crypto asset used for each purchase, available to all cardholders since April 2025 with no token-holding or staking tier required.
- Bybit Card2% to 10% cashback via a six-tier VIP ladder in most regions; EEA-issued cardholders without VIP status earn a flat 1% since August 2026.
- Coinbase CardUS Visa debit: rotating rewards up to 4% on selected altcoins, 1% on BTC/ETH/DOGE/DAI. Coinbase One Card: 2% to 4% Bitcoin back tiered by Assets on Coinbase, capped at the first $10,000 of monthly spend for the boosted tiers.
- ether.fi Cash3% cashback on the first $2,000 (Core), $10,000 (Luxe), or $50,000 (Pinnacle) of monthly spend, stepping down to 1% then 0.5% beyond that band; invitation-only VIP pays 4% on its first $50,000.
- Gnosis Pay Card (Gnosis Card)1% to 4% cashback in GNO based on GNO held (0.1 to 100+ GNO), plus a further 1% for OG NFT holders, up to a 5% maximum, under an interim programme running through September 30, 2026.
- Nexo CardUp to 2% crypto cashback (in NEXO Tokens) or 0.5% in Bitcoin when spending in Credit Mode, tiered by Loyalty Program status which requires a $5,000+ digital asset balance.
- RedotPay CardRoughly 3% cashback on Apple Pay/Google Pay transactions is available to RedotPay Pro subscribers ($12.90/month or $129/year); the base card has no broad percentage-back cashback program.
- Wirex CardCryptoback in WXT ranges 0.5% on the free Standard plan up to 8% on the Elite Ultimate plan, which requires a €29.99/month subscription plus 7.5 million WXT locked for 180 days.
- Crypto.com CardChangedPrepaid Visa: 0% (Basic, free) up to 5% CRO (Private, $500,000 12-month lockup), or 8% at the invitation-only $1M Prime tier; separate US Visa Signature credit card pays up to 6% in BTC or CRO.
Bitcoin wallets available in Latvia
A wallet is where bitcoin lives after you buy it, which is the opposite of the exchanges above: those sell it, these hold it. Availability below is the maker's own published shipping or eligibility policy.
Hardware devices
- Keystone 3 Pro$149Air-gapped signing on a 4 inch touchscreen, with three security chips and a fingerprint reader, at $149.
- Ledger Flex$249The Ledger to buy if you want a touchscreen: $249, the same certified chip as the Stax, and more screen pixels than it.
- Ledger Nano S Plus$59Ledger's $59 entry device: the same certified secure element as the $399 Stax, no Bluetooth, and no iPhone support at all.
- Ledger Nano X$79The cheapest Ledger with Bluetooth, now $79 on Ledger's own store, and the one to buy if you want to sign from a phone.
- Ledger Stax$399Ledger's $399 flagship, with the biggest screen it sells and exactly the same secure element as the $59 Nano S Plus.
- Tangem Wallet$59.9A smart card you tap against your phone, sold only in sets of two or three so your backup is another card rather than a written seed.
Desktop and browser
Compare every wallet, including the ones we tell you not to buy
Watch: how to buy bitcoin in Latvia
A video walkthrough of buying bitcoin in Latvia: picking an exchange that takes Euro deposits, passing verification, and moving your coins to self custody.
From our YouTube channel @dontgetrekt, uploaded 2023-03-22.
Do you need a VPN?
A VPN hides which sites you visit from the network you are on and from your internet provider, which is worth having when you move money over a connection you do not control. It does not get you past an exchange's identity checks: every platform we list verifies who you are no matter where you connect from.
If you want one, the strongest records on our list belong to NordVPN (6 independent no-logs audits, the most of any service we review), Windscribe (its no-logs claim tested in the real world 3 times) and Proton VPN (the most audited service with a free tier).
Buying bitcoin in Latvia, start to finish
Pick a platform and verify your identity
Choose from the table above and complete KYC verification with a photo ID. Regulated platforms in Latvia require this before you can deposit.
Fund your account with SEPA transfer
Common options here: SEPA transfer, SEPA Instant, credit or debit card, Apple Pay, Google Pay. Bank transfers are usually the cheapest; cards are faster but add fees.
Buy, then decide where to keep it
Place your order, and for anything more than pocket money consider moving it to a hardware wallet you control. Our security guide covers the habits that keep coins safe.
Legal status and regulation in Latvia
Bitcoin is legal in Latvia, an EU and euro-area member. Crypto platforms serving Latvian customers fall under the EU's Markets in Crypto-Assets regulation (MiCA), with Latvijas Banka, the central bank and integrated financial supervisor since absorbing the Financial and Capital Market Commission in 2023, acting as the national licensing authority. Only authorized crypto-asset service providers may operate as the EU's transitional arrangements wind down, and gains are taxed as capital income under Latvian law.
Words worth knowing before you buy in Latvia
Picked from what this page already says about Latvia, not from a standard list.
- MiCAEU member stateMiCA is the European Union's crypto licensing law, and it regulates the companies that sell you bitcoin rather than bitcoin itself, which has no issuer to regulate.
- Recurring buySEPA InstantA recurring buy is the exchange feature that executes a purchase for you on a schedule, pulling money from your bank on the day you picked without you logging in.
Frequently asked questions
Is bitcoin legal in Latvia?
Yes. Bitcoin is legal to buy, hold, and sell, and platforms serving Latvia operate under the EU's MiCA regulation with Latvijas Banka as the national supervisor. Any MiCA-authorized provider from elsewhere in the EEA can passport its services into Latvia.
What is the cheapest way to buy bitcoin in Latvia?
Fund an exchange by SEPA transfer, which is free or close to it from Latvian banks, and buy on the platform's advanced trading interface rather than the instant-buy screen. Card purchases settle faster but typically cost several percent extra.
How are bitcoin gains taxed in Latvia?
Profits from selling crypto are taxed as capital gains for individuals and must be declared to the State Revenue Service. Rates have shifted with recent tax reforms, so confirm the current figure before filing rather than relying on an old number.
Do I need a Latvian platform, or will any EU exchange do?
Any crypto-asset service provider authorized under MiCA in the EEA may legally serve you; there is no requirement to use a Latvian company. Check a platform's authorization status rather than its country of incorporation.
